The speed skating season wraps-up with the last day of the 2004 ING Olympic Oval Finale

The ice was fast on the final day of the 2004 ING Olympic Oval Finale competition marking the end of the long track speed skating season. There were five Junior World Records, three Canadian Junior Records, and over 500 personal best times during this five-day event. 2004 Junior World Champion Justin Wasylewicz was awarded the Canon Top Canadian Award and Ireen Wuust of the Netherlands received the Canon Top International Award. Both recipients were presented with a Canon digital camera.

In the men’s 500m Sprint races, China’s Zhou Lu was first with a time of 35.53 and Dutch skater Jacques Dekoning was second (35.56). National Team skater Brock Miron was third with a time of 35.58. In the 1000m, Beorn Nijenhuis (NED) was first with a time of 1:08.35, and Miron was second with a personal best time of 1:09.58. Dutch skater Stefan Groothuis was third with a time of 1:09.63. Miron was crowned the men’s Sprint Champion, Groothuis was second overall and Yu Li (CHN) was third.

In the women’s 500m event, Japan’s Sayuri Yoshii was first with a time of 38.38, Xin Zhao (CHN) was second with a 38.84, and Kimiko Nurui (JPN) was third (38.91). In the 1000m, Beixing Wang (CHN) who trains in the Oval Program was first with a time of 1:17.92, Nurui was second (1:18.38), while Zhao was third (1:18.49). Zhao was the women’s Sprint Champion, Wang was second overall and Nurui was third.

Li won the exciting men’s 100m dash finals with a time of 9.547 and Wang was the fastest woman with a time of 10.572. The Ceilis’ 70 and 100 lap Marathon events are still underway this evening at the Olympic Oval.

To maintain the Olympic Oval's world-class facility, we will be undergoing upgrades to our facility beginning this spring and continuing until the end of July 2004. Public skating will resume in August 2004.